American Civics Campaign has raised $26.1 million of $40 million goal
To fittingly commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Nixon presidency, Ambassador Robert C. O’Brien, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Richard Nixon Foundation, announced the American Civics Campaign, to support the future of the Nixon Library, ensuring that it remains an active center for study, debate and analysis of America’s role in the world, advancing the principles that President Nixon stood for, promoted and embodied throughout his life and career.
$26.1 million has been pledged toward a $40 million American Civics Campaign goal.
The government of Qatar pledged a $20 million gift to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and Qatar, which was undertaken by the Nixon administration in 1972.
The government of Qatar’s gift will enable the Richard Nixon Foundation to build a new hall at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum designed to house large-scale, rotating and traveling educational exhibitions and programs.
Ambassador O’Brien announced two additional lead gifts:
Barbara and Alex Bowie are longtime residents of Newport Beach, California. They generously pledged $3 million toward the construction of the American Civics Center’s Transportation Pavilion. Alex Bowie was a partner at Bowie Arneson Wiles & Giannone and practiced law with Herbert W. Kalmbach, President Nixon’s longtime personal attorney. Alex played a pivotal role for more than 30 years in drawing civil maps and establishing water and land use rights in order to incorporate cities throughout Orange County.
Ling and Charlie Zhang are among the most generous philanthropists in Southern California. They generously pledged $2 million toward the construction of the American Civics Center’s Transportation Pavilion. Ling and Charlie founded Pick Up Stix, the renowned fast-casual Asian-fusion restaurant chain, and are the driving force behind OC Music & Dance, Orange County’s first and only nonprofit community music and arts school. Charlie serves as Treasurer of the Richard Nixon Foundation.
Ambassador O’Brien made this announcement while speaking before nearly 150 American Prisoners of War, held in captivity in North Vietnam, at a celebration reunion at the Nixon Presidential Library 50 years to the day that President and Mrs. Nixon hosted them at the White House.
The American Civics Campaign will enable:
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- Construction of a hall for special exhibitions, ensuring that the Nixon Library becomes a destination for visitors from all around the world, to see treasured, educational, marquee exhibitions
- Construction of a pavilion to permanently house the Marine One helicopter that flew Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Ford, as well as “The Beast” presidential limousine.
- Construction of hands-on, civics education center, using simulations to teach history and apply the principles of the U.S. Constitution to events today, championing —and doing our part to preserve— the American system of government.
- Research and scholarship of the Nixon presidency, as a roadmap guiding America’s future.
Ambassador Robert C. O’Brien, Chairman of the Richard Nixon Foundation Board of Directors, announced last evening the American Civics Campaign to support the future of the Nixon Library,
Ambassador O’Brien said: “This undertaking will quadruple our educational exhibition space; preserve the President’s iconic Marine One helicopter and “The Beast” presidential limousine; and create an immersive, hands-on civics education center for students, scholars and researchers from around the world, bringing together nonpartisan educational collaborators to play a leading role in tackling one of our country’s most pressing and glaring challenges.”
Ambassador O’Brien continued: “This undertaking directly supports the Nixon Foundation’s mission of engaging the public with American civics and history. It’s an extraordinary day for the Nixon Foundation and Presidential Library, and all the more special to make this announcement in the presence of so many American heroes.”
We invite you to follow us online at nixonfoundation.org for further updates and announcements about the American Civics Campaign.
To learn more about the American Civics Campaign, contact Kiara Ramos at [email protected] or 714-364-1176.